The Wiley–Blackwell Companion to Sociology

The Wiley–Blackwell Companion to Sociology  presents a comprehensive and balanced overview of the major topics and emerging trends in the discipline of sociology today. Original chapters – carefully compiled and edited by award–winning sociology professor George Ritzer – represent the most cutting–edge work by leading sociological thinkers and bright emerging scholars from around the globe. After providing insights into research methods and theoretical foundations of classic and contemporary sociology, a variety of established sociological issues are explored – ranging from culture and crime to sexuality and politics. A final section of chapters features some of the latest sociological considerations, including the future of capitalism, terrorism, and emerging technologies. Reflecting the most innovative ideas and trends shaping the contemporary state of the discipline,  The Wiley–Blackwell Companion to Sociology  boldly paves the way for the future of sociological thought.

Notes on Contributors viii Introduction 1 George Ritzer PART I INTRODUCTION 7 1 Philosophy and Sociology 9 Stephen Turner 2 A Selective History of Sociology 25 Alan Sica 3 Quantitative Methods 55 Russell K. Schutt 4 Qualitative Methods 73 Mitchell Duneier 5 Classical Sociological Theory 82 Alan Sica 6 Contemporary Sociological Theory 98 George Ritzer and William Yagatich PART II BASIC TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY 119 7 Action, Interaction, and Groups 121 Kimberly B. Rogers and Lynn Smith–Lovin 8 Groups and Institutions, Structures and Processes 139 Murray Webster, Jr. and Jane Sell 9 The Sociology of Organizations 164 Stewart R. Clegg 10 Cultural Analysis 182 John Tomlinson 11 The Changing Life Course 197 Angela M. O’Rand 12 Deviance: A Sociology of Unconventionalities 212 Nachman Ben–Yehuda 13 Criminology 229 Charles F. Wellford 14 Critical Sexualities Studies 243 Ken Plummer 15 Feeling Class: Affect and Culture in the Making of Class Relations 269 Beverley Skeggs 16 Racial and Ethnic Issues: Critical Race Approaches in the United States 287 Brittany Chevon Slatton and Joe R. Feagin 17 Genders and Sexualities in Global Context: An Intersectional Assessment of Contemporary Scholarship 304 Nancy A. Naples and Barbara Gurr 18 Changing Families: Fluidity, Partnership, and Family Structure 333 Graham Allan and Emma Head 19 Sociology of Education 348 Maureen T. Hallinan and Ge Liu 20 Sociology of Religion 367 Christian Smith and Robert D. Woodberry 21 Current Directions in Medical Sociology 385 William C. Cockerham 22 Media and Communications 402 John Durham Peters and Jefferson D. Pooley 23 Work and Employment 418 Steven P. Vallas 24 The Sociology of Consumption 444 P. J. Rey and George Ritzer 25 Population 470 Suzanne M. Bianchi and Vanessa Wight 26 Urbanization 488 Kevin Fox Gotham 27 Environmental Sociology 504 Richard York and Riley E. Dunlap 28 Social Movements 522 Remy Cross and David A. Snow 29 Globalization 545 Paul Dean and George Ritzer PART III CUTTING EDGE ISSUES IN SOCIOLOGY 565 30 After Neoliberalism: Whither Capitalism? 567 Robert J. Antonio 31 Organized Coercion and Political Authority: Armed Conflict in a World of States 588 Meyer Kestnbaum 32 Science and Technology: Now and in the Future 609 Mark Erickson and Frank Webster 33 The Internet, Web 2.0, and Beyond 626 Nathan Jurgenson and George Ritzer Index 649

George Ritzer  is Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland. His books include  The McDonaldization of Society  (6th edn., 2011),  The Globalization of Nothing (2nd edn., 2007)  Globalization: A Basic Text  (2010). Ritzer has also received the American Sociological Association′s Distinguished Contribution to Teaching Award.

“This book therefore gives us an excellent representation of the current state of academic sociology in the Western world . . . This one can be recommended as a sound, comprehensive outline of the main fields of sociological study to those libraries that do not feel that they already have an adequate stock of recent books on the topic.”  ( Reference Reviews , 1 December 2012) “Graduate students will find this to be an excellent preparation for qualifying examination, and they and young faculty will find numerous ideas for research projects.  Summing Up: Highly recommended.  For universities and libraries of sociology graduate departments.”  ( Choice , 1 August 2012)